Ballot-box



(No Model.)

0. HOWE. BALLOT BOX.

Patented Aug. 26, 1884.

FVITJVESSES liter/leg,

N PEYERS, Pholu-Lilh gmpher. Washington. I)v C.

Uivrrnn STATES- Pnrns rr @rrrcn CYRENIUS HOlVE, OF OLEARFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALLOT- BOX.

SPECIPICAEEGII forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,200, dated August 26, 1884:.

Application filed June 25, 1864.

(X0 model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that l, OYRENIUS HOWE, a citi- Zen of the United States of America, residing at Clearfield, in the county of Clear-field and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful BallotBox, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in ballot-boxes, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive device of that character whereby ballots for a number of different candidates to different oli'ices may be separately received in designated compartments,the tallysheets and papers relative to the election placed in other compartments separate and distinct from the former, and upon the closing of the polls the box containing its contents solocked and sealed as to prevent the insertion of additional ballots, the withdrawal of those already deposited, or any tampering with the electionpapers during the time intervening between the balloting and the counting and comparison of the votes.

My invention therefore consists in the novel construction and arrangements of the several parts constituting myiinproved ballot-box, as will'be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 represents a top plan view of my ballot-box scaled up Fig. 2, a sectional view, looking down into the box; Fig. 3, a vertical longitudinal section; Fig. 4, a detail view of the cap; Fig. 5, an under side plan view of the same; Fig. 6, a detail view of a portion of the box-lid and central tube.

The letter A rcpresentsa circular box, preferably constructed of sheet metal, and formed with a central tube, B, extending from the bottom some distance above the top of the box. Radiating froni this central tube, B, to the rim of the box are partitions a, the spaces between which form compartments 0, for the reception andretcntion of the ballots. The rim of the box A is turned down at its top to form a lip, b, which acts as a support for a lid, D, cutout in its center to fit around the central tube, B, and is provided with a series of perforations adapted to register with the ballot-compartdle, c. This lid has also a door, cl, provided with a staple upon its under side,which enters a hasp, c, secured to one of the radiating partitions, and in conjunction therewith isformed with a perforation, through which one end of a crank-lever, f, extends, operated from within the central tube to lock said door in a closed position. The lid D is kept in position upon the lip or support I) by means of an annular flange, E, secured around the outerside of the box-rim, and turned down over said lid, as shown by Figs. 1 and 3, so as to permit the latter being revolved, but preventing its re moval.

Adapted to fit upon the upper projecting portion of the central tube, B, is a removable cap, F, provided with perforations equal in number to and capable of being placed in or out of register with those in the lid D. This cap is provided upon its interior with lugs g, which enter recesses h, cut in the central tube, B, to prevent the revolution of said cap. A rod, i, extended up from the bottom of the box, is screw-threaded at its upper end to receive a burr or thumb-nut, which, when screwed down, holds the cap securely in any position it may be placed, said cap being provided with a perforation to admit the passage of the rod.

Formed upon the under side of the box A is a supplemental box or drawer, G, adapted to be locked from within the main box by a lock or bolt, 70, substantially as shown in Fig. 3. This supplemental box or drawer and the central tube, B, serve as receptacles for the tally-sheets and other papers relative to an election.

The otficial designation of officers to be voted for is respectively secured upon the cap F, about the perforations therein, and said cap placed upon the central tube, B, so that its perforations will register with those in the box D, and the burr or thumb-nut screwed down to retain it in this position. The box being now ready for the reception of the ballots, the latter are inserted through the registering perforations in the cap or lid and fall into the compartments 0, which correspond ments, and also provided with a ring or han- M in number to the perforations or ticket-holes, said perforations being of such a size as to only admit one ballot at a time. At the close of the election the tally sheet and other papers are placed in the central tube and supplemental box or drawer, the latter locked from within the interior of the main boX. The door of the box-lid is also locked by operating the cranklever f, and the cap F is so placed as to have its lugs 9 enter the recesses h in the central tube and throw the perforations of said cap and box-lid out of register, the interstices between the perforations in the cap covering those in the lid. The burr or thumb-nut is screwed down tightly upon the top of the cap and a tape or ribbon, H, passed between the projections of the former, and its ends sealed to the top of the latter, thus efi'ectually locking and sealing the entire contents of the box, to prevent the insertion of additional votes, the withdrawal of those already deposited, or the tampering with any of the election-papers during the interval between the balloting and comparing of the votes.

For convenience of carrying the ballot-box from place to place, or to place it within easy reach of the voters, I construct the same with a bail, m, by which it may be suspended from any suitable support.

When it is desired to count and compare the votes,the seal is broken by the proper official, and upon the removal of the cap the door of the box-lid may be unlocked by operating the crank-lever. After thus unlocking the lid-door, access is had to the lock of the supplemental box or drawer, which, with the central tube, contains the tally-sheets and papers relative to the election.

The votes in the various compartments are successively reached by revolving the box-1id until its door-opening comes over such compartments, thus permitting the removal of the contents of but one box at one time.

Having now described my invention,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A ballot-box constructed with aseries of compartments radiating from a common center, a revolving lid provided with an opening through which access is had to the compartments, a door to close the opening, and a series of openings communicating with the com partments, substantially as described.

2. A ballot-box constructed with a series of radial compartments, a revolving lid provided with an opening through which access is had to the compartments, a door to close said opening, and a series of openings communicating with the compartments, and a central tube having a cap provided at its lower portion with a circumferential flange having a series of open: ings corresponding in number with the openings in the lid, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. A ballot-box constructed with a series of radial compartments, a revolving lid provided with an opening through which access is had with the compartments, a door to close said opening, and a series of openings communicating with the compartments, a central tube having a cap provided at its lower portion with a circumferential flange having a series of openings corresponding in number with the openings in the lid, and a supplemental box or drawer upon the bottom of the main box, and means, substantially as described, for locking the drawer and door, substantially as described.

4. A ballot-box constructed with a series of radial compartments, a revolving lid provided with an opening through which access is had to the compartments, adoor to close said opening, and a central tube provided with a recess on its upper edge, and having a cap hav ing on its interior upper part lugs adapted to engage with saidlrecess and hold said cap from movement, and provided at its lower portion with a flange having a series of openings corresponding in number with the openings in the lid, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A ballot-box constructed with a series of radial compartments, a revolving lid provided with an opening through which access is had to the compartments, a door to close said opening, and a series of openings communicating with the compartments, a'cap provided at its lower portion with a flange having a series of openings corresponding in number with the openings in the lid, and means, substantially as described, for locking said cap in position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. A ballot-box or ticket-receptacle which consists of a series of compartments covered by a revolving lid provided with a series of ticket-holes communicating with the compartments, in combination with a central detachable cap provided with a flange extending partly over the lid, and provided with a series of ticket-holes,which are closed or opened by turning the lid, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in presence of two attesting witnesses.

GYRENIUS HO VE.

Attest:

J. F. MoKENRroK, HARRY HEMPHILL. 

